How many out there believe in the Bible?

Now, how many of you believe in the literalness of the Bible?

How many of you “preach and believe” what the Bible really says vs. what you are taught?

I ask all this because recently I ran into someone talking about all the millions of people who are going to heaven in the rapture.

He said that when the rapture takes place the world will be in utter mass confusion due to the millions upon millions of people that will be missing. 

I asked him how does he know that so many people will be taken in the rapture?

He then pointed to all the people who profess themselves being a Christian.

Hmmm… so I asked is Oprah going to heaven because she professes being a Christian?

Yes he said because she believes in Jesus.

Hmmm… ok

So I asked him if he could show me in scripture where anyone who makes this profession, they will go to heaven or go in the rapture.

He of course pointed to John 3:16…

John 3:16 (KJV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What Bob was “preaching” is what is called easy-beliefism.

People often point to this and say that they “believe” thus they are going to heaven.

Once they believe they can go do anything they want because all is forgiven and they have their “fire insurance” in hand.

Problem is this is not what scripture is saying nor teaching.

Looking at John 3

In John 3 Christ was talking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus who we learn was a true believer in Jesus. An interesting side study is researching Nicodemus’ Christian walk.

But back to the matter at hand.

Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, he was a learned man and knew the scripture, so Christ talked to him with examples he could understand. 

Jumping back a few verses in John 3 we read the following…

John 3:14-15  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

What Christ is talking about here with Nicodemus was when God sent serpents as a judgment upon the Israelites in the wilderness.

Nicodemus understood this.

We can read the account here in Numbers 21:6-9

Num 21:6-9 (KJV) And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

What Christ was pointing out here to Nicodemus is that the Israelites were saved in the wilderness because they looked upon the serpent. But they not only looked, they repented for their sins and then accepted in faith that they would be healed if they would get up out of their tents and look and believe.

He was pointing out to Nicodemus that they (the Israelites) had to realize that they had sinned. He pointed out that they had to seek repentance for that sin, and then freely accept the gift of healing that God provided.

This is the way that led to life for the Israelites in the wilderness after being bit by the snakes.

Easy-Beliefism Bob

 

Bob is professing something that is not scripturally true. It is commonly called Easy-Beliefism.

Bob is making statements based on only half the facts. In other words Bob is taking scripture out of context. He is inserting his own ideals vs. what scripture really says.

Bob is basically parroting what he was being taught, but is it what the Bible really says?

Here is what scripture says…

Mat 7:13 – 14 (KJV)  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Here in verse 13 Christ himself states that many people will take the broad way leading to destruction. In other words, people will go to hell and a lot of them.

He continues and states that only a FEW will find the way that leads to life. He does not say millions, but he states only a “few there be that find it.”

Now to go on a little further in Matthew 7 we learn that there will be many people who stand before the Lord saying…

“…Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt 7:22b)

Note here that these people are professing to know Christ and in fact they did many “wonderful works” in His name. These people are not professing Buddha, Gandhi, or Joseph Smith, they are professing Jesus Christ as Lord.

What does Christ say to them?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

So right here are many people who “believed” in Christ, but are not getting into the kingdom.

Proper hermeneutics show us that the best way to define scripture is through scripture itself. In regards to “believing” James tells us the following…

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

So right here we are seeing that just because you “believe” does not get you into heaven. The devils “believe” and they sure aren’t going to heaven.

We must first realize that we are lost and destined to hell. It is the Holy Spirit that makes this true to us. In fact, do you know that there is absolutely nothing we need to do to go to hell?

Again, scripture is very clear.

Romans 3:23(KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This mere fact that we are all sinners alone separates us from God. When Paul wrote the word “ALL” that means you, me, everyone. All means all.

But there is more. Because we are sinners, we are destined to death.

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

These two verses right here alone show that there will not be millions upon millions of people who will go to heaven or for that matter be taken up via the Rapture.

The Barna Group ran a survey in 2003 showing that in a national survey of 2033 adults only 4% of adults have a biblical worldview.

"If Jesus Christ came to this planet as a model of how we ought to live, then our goal should be to act like Jesus. Sadly, few people consistently demonstrate the love, obedience and priorities of Jesus. The primary reason that people do not act like Jesus is because they do not think like Jesus. Behavior stems from what we think - our attitudes, beliefs, values and opinions. Although most people own a Bible and know some of its content, our research found that most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and opportunities of life. We're often more concerned with survival amidst chaos than with experiencing truth and significance."

Source - http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=154  

What the Barna Group is pointing out is a fact, not many people know or read their Bible, therefore God’s word does not affect their lives. People are basically going on instinct and what they “think and feel” and what others tell them as opposed to what God’s Word REALLY says.

Read this warning…

Hosea 4:6 (KJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

We as Christians need to get back to the solid Word of God and stop parroting the parrots. We need to be good Bereans and stop being lazy.

Absolute truth is absolute truth and God’s Word is the only Absolute Truth we have.

I challenge you the next time when you hear a teacher, author or anyone making statements about the Bible, stop, take notes and check it out for yourself.

In fact, don’t believe what I am writing here, check into it yourself and see if what I am saying stands up to God’s Word.

Folks, Christ himself said that FEW will find the narrow path that leads to the Father. He said that MANY will find the broad way.

You need to really ask yourself which path are you really on.

Have you bought into Easy-Beliefism?

You need to ask…

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart.  We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and is in fact the inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Matthew 7:21(KJV)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22(KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23(KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What are your thoughts on this article?